God, and laid upon a bed of anguish.. . .
"Why is it so hard to lead a self-denying,
humble life? Because professed Christians
are not dead to the world. It is easy living
after we are dead. But many are longing
for the leeks and onions of Egypt. They
have a disposition to dress and act as
much like the world as possible, and yet
go to heaven. Such climb up some other
way. They do not enter through the
strait gate and narrow
way."—Messages to
Young People,
pages 127, 128.
2.
What admonition does the
psalmist give God's children when
they are tempted to follow the influ-
ence of the world? Ps. 37:1-6.
NOTE.—"Many dress like the world to
have an influence. But here they make a
sad and fatal mistake. If they would have
a true and saving influence, let them live
out their profession, show their faith by
their righteous works, and make the dis-
tinction great between the Christian and
the world. I saw that the words, the dress,
and actions should tell for God. Then a
holy influence will be shed upon all, and
all will take knowledge of them that they
have been with Jesus. Unbelievers will see
that the truth we profess has a holy influ-
ence, and that faith in Christ's coming af-
fects the character of the man or woman."
—Messages to Young People,
page 128.
3.
Against what two powerful so-
cial influences must the Christian con-
stantly contend? Rom. 12:2, first part;
1 John 2:15.
NoTE.—"Jesus is coming, and will He find
a people conformed to the world? and will
He acknowledge them as His people that
He has purified unto Himself? Oh, no.
None but the pure and holy will He ac-
knowledge as His. Those who have been
purified and made white through suffering,
and have kept themselves separate, un-
spotted from the world, He will own as
His.
"As I saw the dreadful fact that God's
people were conformed to the world, with
no distinction, except in name, between
many of the professed disciples of the meek
and lowly Jesus, and unbelievers, my soul
felt deep anguish. I saw that Jesus was
wounded and put to an open shame. Said
the angel, as with sorrow he saw the pro-
fessed people of God loving the world, par-
taking of its spirit, and following its
fashions, 'Cut loose! Cut loose! lest He ap-
point you your portion with hypocrites
and unbelievers outside the city. Your pro-
fession will only cause you greater anguish,
and your punishment will be greater, be-
cause ye knew His will, but did it not.' "
—Messages to Young People,
pages 128,
129.
4.
On whose side do the faithful
ones cast their lot? Joshua 24:15.
NOTE.—"Christ calls upon everyone to
consider. Make an honest reckoning. Put
into one scale Jesus, which means eternal
treasure, life, truth, heaven, and the joy
of Christ in souls redeemed; put into the
other every attraction the world can offer.
Into one scale put the loss of your own
soul, and the souls of those whom you
might have been instrumental in saving;
into the other, for yourself and for them, a
life that measures with the life of God.
Weigh for time and for eternity. While
you are thus engaged, Christ speaks; 'What
shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the
whole world, and lose his own soul?'
"—
Messages to Young People,
page 130.
Social Relations
5.
What example did Christ set for
Christians in their social relationships,
and what instruction did He give?
Luke 9:56; 19:10; Matt. 5:16.
NOTE.—"Social power, sanctified by the
grace of Christ, must be improved in win-
ning souls to the Saviour. Let the world see
that we are not selfishly absorbed in our
own interests, but that we desire others to
share our blessings and privileges. Let them
see that our religion does not make us un-
sympathetic or exacting. Let all who pro-
fess to have found Christ minister as He
did for the benefit of
men."—Messages to
Young People,
pages 403, 404.
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